Epidemiology of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in North America based on histologically confirmed cases. A report.

This study is a survey on equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in North America, based on 364 histologically confirmed cases until 1988. It aims to underscore the prevalent rate of this disease in young Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and quarter horses and lays a foundation for future studies on this topic.

Research Background

• The research is based on a workshop on equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) that was held at the Veterinary Medical Forum of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1988. EPM is a severe neurological disease that can affect horses, caused by a protozoan parasite.
• This study is the first comprehensive survey of EPM in North America aiming to establish understanding and provide a foundation for future studies.

Methodology

• The study used 364 histologically confirmed case records from several places including California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Texas up to 1988.
• The research did not identify discernible differences based on geographic location, sex, and season of infection, signifying that these factors could not conclusively determine the prevalence or susceptibility of horses to EPM.

Key Findings

• Based on the recorded cases, the highest rate of infection was found in young Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and quarter horses, pointing to a higher prevalence of EPM in these horses.
• There were no substantial differences found in relation to the geographic location, sex, and month (season) of infection, which could be significant in guiding future research on EPM.

Research Implications

• This research forms the basis for understanding the prevalence and spread of EPM in North America and serves as a foundation for evaluating future changes in these aspects.
• The findings can be critical in directing future research where focus might be placed on studying why certain breeds of horses are more susceptible to EPM and devising strategies to prevent or treat the disease among those breeds.